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We were in town and walked Penn Ave. So many cute shops and restaurants & breweries. We had gone to one brewery & this was our 2nd stop. We ordered 2 small plates - so good. Asian influence on elevated bar food! Beer menu was very good as was the seasonal drinks. If you find yourself in ththe Reading area - definitely go to Penn Ave!
The menu was pretty unique. Prices were quite high, however the presentation of the food was impressive. My food tasted amazing! Don't go for the cocktails... they're served in a can. The beer is overpriced. They don't have soft served drinks with refills. You basically either have to settle for water or a small glass bottled soda. If you want a refill, that's not an option, as you'll have to pay for a new drink each time. I did appreciate the ambiance of the place. Great music, uplifting entertainment, and outside tables. The appetizer in my photos they don't serve anymore so that was a bummer, as it was my favorite. I'd say the restaurant is definitely a good time. Just go with a lot of money and an open mind to try their menu.
This unassuming craft beer pub was a lot more than just a pub with bar food. The menu options and food was superior. They had an amazing food menu. We had the Korean Sticky Chicken, sezchuan lamb noodles, Sticky Char'd Brussels! The sauces, and seasonings for each were divine. And the roasted brussel sprouts were roasted with perfect crisp. The sezchuan lamb noodles had a little more kick than I expected but it was almost perfect. My compliments to the chef. The beer selection was incredible. I don't think beer lovers could go wrong. The staff was friendly and the dining area was big. Something that people seemed to not like was that you had to get your water yourself. But not a big deal. Most of us could use the extra steps. Come on this is a tavern...
I don't normally give out five stars, but this place is just fantastic. I love the fact that you order everything at the bar so it's very easy to handle your own bill and eat and drink at your own pace. Plenty of space inside and out with a huge cooler full of beers sorted by style. The tap list is diverse and some of the prices are amazing. $5/2oz pours so reasonable. Very limited cocktails and they have some canned cocktails that were enjoyed by some in our party. They have a large space out back and you can access it from inside. Pet friendly, but they ask all dogs to remain on their leash. Fair. Even a few tables covered in the shade. Just watch out for the birds who nest above. Pricing on the menu items are not inexpensive, but the servings are enormous. Bring a cooler and take home the leftovers. Really love this spot.
Phenomenal experience, worth all they hype I've heard. For a foodie and craft beer enthusiast like myself, this was fantastic. The selection of beers will hit everyone's taste. The food, wow it was beyond what I expected. I will absolutely be returning and sharing to friends it's a must visit.
Food is quality and delicious. I was impressed this "bar" turned out serious food. Fun place with front and back patios.
Perfectly malleable to fit any situation. Really just checks all the boxes. Weekend brunch? Check. Day drinking spot? Check. Outdoor seating and deck area? Check. Cozy dinner atmosphere? Saturday night hot spot? Great location in the heart of West Reading? Yeah, all of the above. Seriously though, the food has gotten so much better over the years. I remember when it first opened and the menu consisted of maybe a few sandwiches. Like, they bought a panini press and 80% of the menu was paninis. Actually, now that I just looked at the menu, they still have a ton of sandwiches, but they are really unique. Tons of variety. Reubens, grilled cheese, meatloaf sliders, melts, the whole gambit. And in addition to a plethora of handhelds, there are plenty of appetizers to choose from like short rib poutine tots, chili deviled eggs, south Philly spring rolls, and pimento cheese strata. On my last trip, I went for brunch. Started with their self-anointed "Insane" bloody Mary.. it involved a pickle, bacon, stuffed pepper, and a jumbo shrimp. All those ingredients were great. But now I'm having really bad flashbacks. While those additions were fantastic, the bloody Mary itself was HORRIBLE. Just watered down, flavorless Campbell's soup. But no, Campbell's tomato soup would have more flavor. This was like diluted, second rate gazpacho. Basically drinking ice water with a hint of tomato flavor. No spices, no seasoning.. the bloody Mary mix they used was absolutely horrid. Such a shame because every other component was so good. Looking past the bloody Mary debacle, my meal was insanely good. I went with the Pastrami Melt - house smoked pastrami, housemade sauce (which they colloquially refer to as "savory schmear"), mac & cheese, roasted shiitake, and caramelized onion on griddled marbled rye. Interesting note - the mac & cheese came on the sandwich and not as a side. The actual sides were tater tots and a small arugula salad. It was an absolutely massive meal. Perhaps, too massive. According to their most up-to-date online menu, you no longer get the tots or arugula salad. The cost also went up from $18 to $21. And that's just in the past three months. Shrinkflation is real, people. And yeah, they don't "serve" water. They have water in a big jug where you have to walk over and get it yourself. If you ask for a water, you'll get instructed on how to fill your own water. And the big jug they have is usually room temperature with no ice. So if you need your thirst quenched with some ice-cold H2O, this ain't it, chief. Despite some minor flaws, Barley Mow should be a staple in West Reading for many years to come. The excellent menu and food quality coupled with the light, fun atmosphere should keep local libation seekers coming back again and again.
Amazing upscale bar food. Absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Friendly knowledgeable service in a comfortable setting, oh, did I mention and outstanding collection of craft beers. If you are a fan of delicious food and beer come here. Everything we ate was delicious made with fresh quality ingredients. My meatloaf sliders could not have been better. Tasty meatloaf and mash potatoes on a perfectly toasted slider roll with beef gravy. The sandwiches were accompanied by crisp mini fries and a perfectly seasoned salad. The Korean chicken was crisp on the outside and juicy inside with just the right amount of kick. They were nestled in soft bao buns. The crispy deviled eggs also had a kick to them and were topped by a crisp chip. Lots of beer to wash everything down. You can get small 5 oz samples here so you can do your own tasting food matchings. Can not wait to come back and try some more.
Great atmosphere, friendly staff, awesome beer menu, delicious food. Picture is Korean sticky chicken.
I love Barley Mow's Sunday Brunch! Extremely Unique! Nothing plain here, just eat it the way the kitchen prepares it, or you'll miss out! Next problem is picking one of the equally fun Brunch drinks!
Come for the beer, come again for the deviled eggs. Rarely visit this area for work. I stumbled on this place a year ago, and when in town went out of my way just for the eggs. So tasty. In the summer time the outdoor seating is great. Overall- great ambiance, great service (thanks for the beer recommendations!) and great eggs. I can only imagine what the other dishes are like :)
Just got home from Sunday Brunch at Barley Mow, and I literally had to jump on my phone to review. Well, this was after I again looked at the pictures of what I just ate! And here's the review. GO AND EAT THEIR BRUNCH NOOOOWWWW!!! Undoubtedly, a 10 out of 10 meal! We started with Bloody Marys. A meal unto themselves. Good spice and texture to the blend. Loaded with bacon strips, a prawn, pickle, and a super hot cheese filled pepper. Then to the meals- Holy Goodness, the meals!! My boyfriend ate the Butter Chicken and I had the Octopus. Everything in the chicken dish tasted great together and all would taste amazing apart as their own sides. The tikka sauce tasted authentic. Cheese curds, fried to perfection. And the potatoes, so crispy and soft. Let alone the most beautiful poached egg. So, being primarily pescatarian, I was jazzed to see octopus on the menu!! Never tried and couldn't wait. Directly after this review, I will be researching how to make octopus....OMG! Tender, charred, yum! And the soft scrambled eggs- how did they make these so pillowy. The torta added a sweet surprise. And prawns and shishito peppers, wow. Put a fork in me, I'm done.....and can't wait to eat it all again!!!
Purely rating based on the beer selection. We often find ourselves looking for places that offer outside dining during this pandemic. Barley Mow has plenty seating - front deck, along the side of the building and plenty outback. We did order the tots due to the governor's recent order to purchase food, but we didn't really eat those. Not only do they have a wide variety of draft beers, the selection in the bottle shop is also impressive. There is something for everyone.
Great service and drinks. Love the outdoor seating. Tator tots- perfect seasoning, great crispy skin and pairs perfecting with the dipping sauce Noodles- flavorful but too spicy for me! The noodle texture was also a bit rubbery Bao buns- great flavor but the buns were a little dry. I think a little cilantro or something fresh and green would make it even better! read more
6 months ago
The vibe and atmosphere here are super laid back and fun. Feels like you're in someone's living room eating and hanging out. Love the food, everything is SOOO good! All the servers are laid back and remind me of California vibes, love it! read more
The Barley Mow has the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. The Pastrami Melt is on another level. The pastrami was smoked tender and packed into the sandwich with a ton of flavor. Add in the shiitake mushrooms and mac n cheese and it was just amazing. It had the feel of a grilled cheese mixed with pastrami on rye and I was blown away. The restaurant itself is super clean with a great vibe and I like the seat yourself style. The service was good too. Honestly I am still stunned at how good that sandwich was. If you go here the Pastrami Melt is a must try. 1000000000/10 Recommend! read more
We were in town and walked Penn Ave. So many cute shops and restaurants & breweries. We had gone to one brewery & this was our 2nd stop. We ordered 2 small plates - so good. Asian influence on elevated bar food! Beer menu was very good as was the seasonal drinks. If you find yourself in ththe Reading area - definitely go to Penn Ave! read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
The menu was pretty unique. Prices were quite high, however the presentation of the food was impressive. My food tasted amazing! Don't go for the cocktails... they're served in a can. The beer is overpriced. They don't have soft served drinks with refills. You basically either have to settle for water or a small glass bottled soda. If you want a refill, that's not an option, as you'll have to pay for a new drink each time. I did appreciate the ambiance of the place. Great music, uplifting entertainment, and outside tables. The appetizer in my photos they don't serve anymore so that was a bummer, as it was my favorite. I'd say the restaurant is definitely a good time. Just go with a lot of money and an open mind to try their menu. read more
This unassuming craft beer pub was a lot more than just a pub with bar food. The menu options and food was superior. They had an amazing food menu. We had the Korean Sticky Chicken, sezchuan lamb noodles, Sticky Char'd Brussels! The sauces, and seasonings for each were divine. And the roasted brussel sprouts were roasted with perfect crisp. The sezchuan lamb noodles had a little more kick than I expected but it was almost perfect. My compliments to the chef. The beer selection was incredible. I don't think beer lovers could go wrong. The staff was friendly and the dining area was big. Something that people seemed to not like was that you had to get your water yourself. But not a big deal. Most of us could use the extra steps. Come on this is a tavern... read more
I don't normally give out five stars, but this place is just fantastic. I love the fact that you order everything at the bar so it's very easy to handle your own bill and eat and drink at your own pace. Plenty of space inside and out with a huge cooler full of beers sorted by style. The tap list is diverse and some of the prices are amazing. $5/2oz pours so reasonable. Very limited cocktails and they have some canned cocktails that were enjoyed by some in our party. They have a large space out back and you can access it from inside. Pet friendly, but they ask all dogs to remain on their leash. Fair. Even a few tables covered in the shade. Just watch out for the birds who nest above. Pricing on the menu items are not inexpensive, but the servings are enormous. Bring a cooler and take home the leftovers. Really love this spot. read more
Phenomenal experience, worth all they hype I've heard. For a foodie and craft beer enthusiast like myself, this was fantastic. The selection of beers will hit everyone's taste. The food, wow it was beyond what I expected. I will absolutely be returning and sharing to friends it's a must visit. read more
Perfectly malleable to fit any situation. Really just checks all the boxes. Weekend brunch? Check. Day drinking spot? Check. Outdoor seating and deck area? Check. Cozy dinner atmosphere? Saturday night hot spot? Great location in the heart of West Reading? Yeah, all of the above. Seriously though, the food has gotten so much better over the years. I remember when it first opened and the menu consisted of maybe a few sandwiches. Like, they bought a panini press and 80% of the menu was paninis. Actually, now that I just looked at the menu, they still have a ton of sandwiches, but they are really unique. Tons of variety. Reubens, grilled cheese, meatloaf sliders, melts, the whole gambit. And in addition to a plethora of handhelds, there are plenty of appetizers to choose from like short rib poutine tots, chili deviled eggs, south Philly spring rolls, and pimento cheese strata. On my last trip, I went for brunch. Started with their self-anointed "Insane" bloody Mary.. it involved a pickle, bacon, stuffed pepper, and a jumbo shrimp. All those ingredients were great. But now I'm having really bad flashbacks. While those additions were fantastic, the bloody Mary itself was HORRIBLE. Just watered down, flavorless Campbell's soup. But no, Campbell's tomato soup would have more flavor. This was like diluted, second rate gazpacho. Basically drinking ice water with a hint of tomato flavor. No spices, no seasoning.. the bloody Mary mix they used was absolutely horrid. Such a shame because every other component was so good. Looking past the bloody Mary debacle, my meal was insanely good. I went with the Pastrami Melt - house smoked pastrami, housemade sauce (which they colloquially refer to as "savory schmear"), mac & cheese, roasted shiitake, and caramelized onion on griddled marbled rye. Interesting note - the mac & cheese came on the sandwich and not as a side. The actual sides were tater tots and a small arugula salad. It was an absolutely massive meal. Perhaps, too massive. According to their most up-to-date online menu, you no longer get the tots or arugula salad. The cost also went up from $18 to $21. And that's just in the past three months. Shrinkflation is real, people. And yeah, they don't "serve" water. They have water in a big jug where you have to walk over and get it yourself. If you ask for a water, you'll get instructed on how to fill your own water. And the big jug they have is usually room temperature with no ice. So if you need your thirst quenched with some ice-cold H2O, this ain't it, chief. Despite some minor flaws, Barley Mow should be a staple in West Reading for many years to come. The excellent menu and food quality coupled with the light, fun atmosphere should keep local libation seekers coming back again and again. read more
Amazing upscale bar food. Absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Friendly knowledgeable service in a comfortable setting, oh, did I mention and outstanding collection of craft beers. If you are a fan of delicious food and beer come here. Everything we ate was delicious made with fresh quality ingredients. My meatloaf sliders could not have been better. Tasty meatloaf and mash potatoes on a perfectly toasted slider roll with beef gravy. The sandwiches were accompanied by crisp mini fries and a perfectly seasoned salad. The Korean chicken was crisp on the outside and juicy inside with just the right amount of kick. They were nestled in soft bao buns. The crispy deviled eggs also had a kick to them and were topped by a crisp chip. Lots of beer to wash everything down. You can get small 5 oz samples here so you can do your own tasting food matchings. Can not wait to come back and try some more. read more
2 years ago
Great atmosphere, friendly staff, awesome beer menu, delicious food. Picture is Korean sticky chicken. read more
2 years ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
Come for the beer, come again for the deviled eggs. Rarely visit this area for work. I stumbled on this place a year ago, and when in town went out of my way just for the eggs. So tasty. In the summer time the outdoor seating is great. Overall- great ambiance, great service (thanks for the beer recommendations!) and great eggs. I can only imagine what the other dishes are like :) read more
6 years ago
Just got home from Sunday Brunch at Barley Mow, and I literally had to jump on my phone to review. Well, this was after I again looked at the pictures of what I just ate! And here's the review. GO AND EAT THEIR BRUNCH NOOOOWWWW!!! Undoubtedly, a 10 out of 10 meal! We started with Bloody Marys. A meal unto themselves. Good spice and texture to the blend. Loaded with bacon strips, a prawn, pickle, and a super hot cheese filled pepper. Then to the meals- Holy Goodness, the meals!! My boyfriend ate the Butter Chicken and I had the Octopus. Everything in the chicken dish tasted great together and all would taste amazing apart as their own sides. The tikka sauce tasted authentic. Cheese curds, fried to perfection. And the potatoes, so crispy and soft. Let alone the most beautiful poached egg. So, being primarily pescatarian, I was jazzed to see octopus on the menu!! Never tried and couldn't wait. Directly after this review, I will be researching how to make octopus....OMG! Tender, charred, yum! And the soft scrambled eggs- how did they make these so pillowy. The torta added a sweet surprise. And prawns and shishito peppers, wow. Put a fork in me, I'm done.....and can't wait to eat it all again!!! read more
Purely rating based on the beer selection. We often find ourselves looking for places that offer outside dining during this pandemic. Barley Mow has plenty seating - front deck, along the side of the building and plenty outback. We did order the tots due to the governor's recent order to purchase food, but we didn't really eat those. Not only do they have a wide variety of draft beers, the selection in the bottle shop is also impressive. There is something for everyone. read more
3 years ago
Absolutely delicious and innovative food! The spicy tuna wonton nachos and tikki masala poutine were stellar. Great selection of brews, too, but I'd love more local ones to choose from. Ambience is great! Staff wonderful and helpful! read more
We enjoyed a couple of brews here after dinner in West Reading. This spot has a great little outdoor patio and fantastic indoor space as well. On a Saturday night with great weather, there were plenty of places to find a spot to relax and have a drink, yet the place was busy and vibrant. We chose a couple options from the fridge selection. The draft list had plenty of IPAs, if that's what you're into. For us, there weren't enough appealing options or variety there. The fridge and the shelves have a good selection though. We each had a couple of Sours that were just like fruit juice and so yummy! We felt the prices were reasonable, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We would definitely come back, and hopefully that draft list rotates in a bit more options to appease every palate. read more
Wow! This place is quite an amazing find. Being a beer enthusiast, this place offers many different beers on tap as well as single can options. But the food definitely out stages the beer options. The chef is very talented. The best thing on the menu was Portuguese Clams. The sauce was the perfect amount of spice and really added to the clam dish. read more
5 years ago
If you're looking for a something unique, Barley Mow is it! Their menu had very unique selections. They have a rotating draft, I'm not a beer drinker but there's always a cider or seltzer on tap. They also have a large assortment of canned and bottled beers and ciders. Their Sunday brunch is amazing, I been several times. Dinner is also delicious. My favorites are their pork belly (available at dinner and brunch), and thai curry mussels. They do mimosa flights for brunch. There's ample seating inside and out. You order at the bar, then you get a number and your food is served to you. Drinks you take to the table yourself. I love this place and recommend it to anyone! read more
We went to this place for a date night in the spring. It was a great little spot in West Reading that has massive beer selection. I don't drink so I was pleasantly surprised that the food menu was equally as extensive but I figured there was no way they offered such a diverse menu competently. I was wrong. We got Bao buns, the Peruvian chicken and meatloaf sliders. They were all delicious. It was honestly more than enough food for two of us. After perusing their website before writing this review, I noticed that their menu seems to have changed for the summer. I love to see this. so many places in Berks County simply play the same ol' favorites without trying anything new. With limited options near Reading, this is a great place to add to the rotation. If I am ever back in the area, I will stop by! read more
2 years ago
Great service and delicious food. Trying to figure out what I ate. chef friend loved her lamb pasta dish and we plan on coming back when I visit PA in OCt. read more
This place has a great ambiance! I heard the place had been remodeled, and if so the reno looks great! Very modern. Went on a date night (my hubs loves beer) and they have a lot to choose from! They also have wine selections. Wasn't quite sure how things worked when we walked in, as no one is there to greet you. You walk up the steps and straight ahead you can order food at the counter. They have paper menus that you can take to your table (seat yourself.) Once you order you get a number & they take your card to start a tab for you. Here's what we ordered: Started with two drinks. I ordered the Le Seul XVI (Blackberry and Lemon.) They let you sample it before you order and I loved it because it reminded me of Apple Cider Vinegar (I know weird, right?) My hubs ordered a beer, can't remember the name but will update when I do! He enjoyed his as well. Both drinks lasted us through our entire meal. They have all small plates since their biggest thing is the drinks. We ordered 6 small plates and shared them all. -Emperor Salad: this was REALLY good. Had to get a salad to balance all the other carbs. I really enjoyed the cornbread crumbles & the passionfruit pearls in this salad. Very creative & each flavor complimented the others. -Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns: my husband's favorite! They have a nice kick to them with the kimchi crema but so good you don't want to stop eating! I do wish the chicken itself had a little more seasoning. -Pastrami Tots: very different. Lots of different flavors but good! We chose this dish over the Truffled Torn Taters because we preferred the tots to be together as opposed to basically hash browns. These tots were nice and loaded and great taste. -Pinot Noir Short Rib: our least favorite. I can see the potential but there was just TOO much hoisin sauce. I can compare it to having pull pork barbecue and there just being way too much bbq sauce. Overwhelming. And there wasn't really anything else on the bun to help soak up the sauce. We took 1 bite and was done. They took it off our bill with no problem. -South Philly Hoagie Spring Roll: tastes exactly how it sounds! A hoagie in a spring roll was very neat to me. Beautiful presentation and nice bite. The chutney didn't add much to the egg rolls but was still good on its own. Very creative. -Windy City Duet: after reading the description we HAD to try it! We were sold with the candied onions lol. This was very good. The angus beef dog was more like a sausage. Very nice crunch when you bit into it. It was a lot on 1 hot dog, but in a good way. Overall great experience. You wear masks unless you are seated at your table. Most people that came in got takeout orders. You can also get growlers and crowlers to go. Will definitely be back to try their Sunday brunch! read more
Recommended by a colleague and it didn't disappoint! I got a peach cider on tap and got some work done while waiting for my lunch. The La Jolla grilled cheese was delicious with the pesto! The bread was nice and crisp. Large menu and would like to come back to try more. read more
Stopped in for lunch after rreadinng the yelp reviews. Didn't drinK (work day) but did enjoy both the meatloaf sliders and the fried chicken nap buns! BotH were absolutely delicious, interesting and beautifully presented. The bar is beautiful and has hundreds of beers from the looks of it. Huge thumbs up, will return and you should try this place! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
7 years ago
It's been a hot minute since I've reviewed this brewtiful house. So let's have a go! To be honest, I often find better (and cheaper) beers in the fridge. But there's usually one or two winners on draft regardless. The food doe. To be honest, I was a little bummed to learn I could no longer bring 10 $10 tacos to munch on here, but it is well worth the transition. The cooks and menu were taken from the Belly Drinkery that once existed in the GoggleWorks. They play on fresh ingredients, and originality of dishes makes it extremely difficult to choose just one (aka go with friends that don't get too protective of their plates). I am obsessed with their bao breakfast buns. The brisket tots, however... I'm not sure that there were more than 3 pieces that weren't fatty slabs. Would not order again. I also love the brussel sprouts, though they could be slightly more charred. And you cannot beat the portion of their lox board. The ambiance is wonderful as always still, and well, my 11 check ins thus far will support that. Hit up Jazzy Brunch. You'll be very happy you did. ONE last note. WHAT is with the haystack potatoes? Just stop putting them on every plate. They ruin the plating and they're just pointless. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
If you want to walk in and be totally ignored, this is the place for you! Apparently, washing the wooden flight boards were more important than basic customer service. The looks of this place was extremely appealing, so I was excited to try it. But after being ignored. They lost 2 customers! read more
5 years ago
This is the perfect place to go if you want a selection of good beer and good food in a laid back environment. The Korean fried chicken bao buns were excellent, as was the lager. There is both outdoor and indoor seating for whatever you prefer. You can't go wrong here! read more
6 years ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
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